The vet tech tells me that a litter of 5 kittens, plus 1 tag-a-long kitten (all about 3 weeks old) arrived moments ago. "If you can't take them, there is no Mom so we'll have to euthanize them."
Before anybody says how cruel that is to euthanize 3 week old kittens, please remember that there is NO Mom cat - NO volunteers that work at the shelter to feed them. So they're either humanely euthanized when they come in, or they starve to death. Fortunately, we were already there rescuing, so were asked if we could take them.
Hell. I didn't really have room. But I did have my foster list that I keep printed in my purse. So I started dialing phone numbers. "Krista" could bottlefeed 3 kittens, but couldn't pick up until tonight. "Karen" has a nursing Mom of older kittens, so she could take 2 of them and allow the other 3 to hang out until Krista could pick up. "Laurie" took the slightly older "tag-a-long" kitten and is bottlefeeding that one.
I dropped off the remaining 5 kittens at Karen's house. I was in awe. Her Mom cat immediately took to the kittens and started grooming and nursing them...despite having FOUR kittens already! Obviously, 9 was too many for her, but it certainly soothed the little ones until Krista arrives to take the 3 in the evening.
The stress of making this happen was gruesome! I still had my two "teenage rescues" in the backseat going to their neuter, so they had to be dropped off:
Euthanizing him wasn't an option either, but it did add to the stress of the day. I wish I could "farm him out" like I did the kittens today. Maybe another Mom....??
Happy Friday all and many thanks to all who love me despite the flipped out phone calls they received this afternoon. :)
11 comments:
OMG the comment about your son was hilarious!
and now kitten season has begun! get ready for a long haul and cute little faces. Beth you are a miracle worker with helping these little blessings!
This is an absolutely fantastic blog! Thank you Sparkle for letting us know about it. And...we are happy Michael is still with you.
Wow Beth, what a rescue! I'm still sad about Teacup, but am relieved to know these kittens have a fighting chance now. Keep up the awesome work you do!
Oh how I love a happy ending...well, at least the kittens got one. Hmm, euthing the kids, never thought of that one. Well, I did, but I always just thought of choking the life out of them, not really but the thought was there. Good luck in court...
Oh Beth, I LOVE the photo of the gorgeous mama cat multi-tasking those 9 kittens! Amazing!
Gosh, I remember when we got that SAME call from you last May...two orphans, about 2-3 weeks old..no mom...and no one to feed them. We ended up losing one to a lingering infection, and adopting the other. I cannot imagine not having our little weirdo. Thank goodness you were there when these babies came in like you were when our babies came in to give them a chance to survive. And, as someone who has taken in some of the orphans from Hamilton, I can say that at least one of their employess tries her hardest to take care of them while they are in her charge, so thank you to her, too! Sometimes I think we forget to thank the people at the shelter who do care.
Lisa H
Beth it never occurred to me that you were frantic....just how to manage 5 more. I think I really need another nursing mommie (totally serious and totally willing)..... that way we do some pre-planning for the next round!!
Kittens are doing well and we are back to the rubbermaid container (keeps them from falling out of the bed) cause Katy was getting sick of picking them up. They are doing well and getting fed. Their brothers and sisters love them and it is one humongous kitten pile when they are all together.
Litte chance the other orphan thinks these guys are marvelous and keeps licking them....
THE LOCAL NURSERY IS UP AND RUNNING!
Went to the other rescue in Richmond Hill where some babies were taken a few weeks ago, maybe last week I loose track of time. The kittens are doing great, they used me as a human climbing tree, so I cut their nails, luckily they are eating on their own cause I doubt the Mom would want to feed them it would be like nursing Edward Scissor Hand!
I so wish I lived closer and could help you out sometimes. You never cease to amaze me and you still keep a good sense of humour....priceless!
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